Chapter 10

The hand that grabbed her was so large that it wrapped completely around her midsection. It took her a minute, but she finally realized what had lifted her so high off the ground. Hagrid's half brother who had been living in the forest, Grawp. Grawp had taken quite a liking to Hermione last year, but she was still worried that he might hurt her. He had been running free in the dangerous forest for a while now, so she didn't know if he had changed from the harmless giant he was, to a killer.

Thankfully, he turned her around to face him and Hermione saw that his eyes were still as big and kind as they had previously been. She pressed her fingers to her lips softly to motion to him to stay quiet. He tiptoed away from the sight where he had grabbed her and brought her back closer to the grounds. Hermione didn't know why he saved her, but she didn't care. She was just happy he did before Bellatrix got her hands on either of them.

She soon reached the edge of the forest and began making her way up to the castle once again. There were a million questions spinning through her head, all of which were related to why Draco was meeting his aunt in the woods and why she had that terrifying dream. Was it merely a coincidence? She didn't have any idea.

Once she made it back into her room without waking too many people, she climbed into bed, still fully clothed. She stared at the woodworking of the bedframe trying desperately to fall asleep, but to no avail. The thought that maybe Draco could be a Death Eater clouded her mind a few times, but she ended up pushing that aside, knowing she was crazy for thinking he would be capable of anything near to what his father was. Soon enough, the sun began to rise and she knew she had to put her robes on and greet the day.

She pulled her bedroom door open without waking anybody and descended the steps into the common room. She always tried to wake before everyone so she could have some alone time in the library, but recently that hadn't been happening. She spent a good two hours reading from the potions section before heading off to breakfast.

She entered into the Great Hall and saw Harry, Ron, and Ginny all gathered together across the room. Ginny motioned for Hermione to join them, so she did.

"It's nice to see you Hermione!" Ginny said happily. "it's been a little while."

"I know it has. I am really sorry about that. Coursework has really started to pile up for me." Hermione spoke and Harry laughed.

"Really 'Mione? You of all people had coursework pile up? Are you still taking six more classes than the rest of the population? Where is your time turner?" All four of them laughed. It was nice having this again. It had been a while since she had a nice meal with her best friends and it felt wonderful. Their conversation was light and happy, but before long, they all had to be off to their first classes. Harry walked to potions, Ginny went to History of Magic, and Ron and Hermione walked to Transfiguration.

"Hey Ron," Hermione questioned, "do you think it would be okay if I sat next to you again? I really love that seat…"

Ron turned to her with a huge smile and said, "Of course, Hermione! We are alright, remember?" They both continued into the class and took their seats. Hermione absentmindedly traced the room with her eyes and noticed that Draco was no where to be found. She had almost forgotten about the events of last night, but now everything was coming back to her. She didn't know why, but she felt herself growing more and more concerned for him.

He was no where to be found for the next few days, and what started as an innocent worry grew deeper and deeper until she found herself in the library early Saturday morning researching disappearances. She knew she had nothing real to look up and no evidence of where he had gone, but she was trying.

Eventually, she gave up and walked frustratedly out of the large room she loved so much. Once she reached the corridor, she heard feverish whispers and slowed her pace. She thought the first voice sounded familiar so she tried to get closer without being noticed. She peered behind a column not 30 feet away from the conversation and saw Professor Snape standing in front of Malfoy. Hermione's heart leaped now that she knew he was okay, but maybe she grew to happy too soon.

Snape moved out of the way so she could get a clearer view of Draco, and he didn't look good. His eyes were hollow and his skin turned a sickly color of yellow. He was shaking, but trying to cover it by standing as tall as he could.

"I can handle this!" Draco spat, "Of all people he chose me! Me!"

"Just let me assist you, Draco. I believe he may have put too much pressure on you," Snape said back.

"I don't need your help!"

"I took the unbreakable vow. I swore to protect you!"

"Hush!" Draco paused, "We aren't alone anymore." He looked around and they both sped off, just narrowly missing Hermione hiding so near to them. She knew little about the unbreakable vow, but what she did know, wasn't good. If Snape was so worried about Draco that he was willing to put his life on the line, she knew it must be serious and her theory that Malfoy was a Death Eater didn't seem too crazy anymore.